Cornell wins 8 matches to cruise past Binghamton

ITHACA, N.Y. -- The No. 9 Big Red wrestling team won eight out of 10 matches on its way to a 30-7 victory over No. 23 Binghamton on Friday night at the Friedman Wrestling Center. Senior three-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake pinned his opponent to grab six team points for the Big Red. Cornell rookies kicked their season off right by going four-for-four with Nahshon Garrett and Duke Pickett winning by major decisions. Senior Joe Stanzione also won by major decision, while Bricker Dixon, Chris Dowdy, Craig Scott and Stryker Lane all claimed victories.

The dual opened at 125 pounds with freshmen Garrett taking on Patrick Hunter. After a scoreless first period, Garrett racked up back points to take an 11-0 lead into the third. Garrett chose to start the third in the top position, but Hunter would escape for his only point of the match. With a takedown and 3:24 in riding time, Garrett won a 14-1 major decision.

At 133 pounds, sophomore Bricker Dixon moved up a weight class to face Derek Steeley. Dixon had two takedowns in the first period to take a 4-1 lead. Steeley escaped from his opening down position in the second. Dixon countered a shot by his opponent to score two points with a takedown. Dixon chose to start the third down on the mat, but was unable to escape. Dixon earned three team points with a 6-2 decision.

Senior No. 13 Joe Stanzione took on Tyler Pendergast at 141 pounds. Stanzione notched a takedown 23 seconds into the bout and added two back points as time ran out in the first. The Big Red senior escaped to open the second period and added a takedown midway through to hold a 7-0 advantage. Pendergast chose to start the third period at neutral. With a third takedown and 4:49 in riding time, Stanzione won a 10-0 major decision.

At 149 pounds, junior Ryan Dunphy faced No. 4 Donnie Vinson. Vinson held a 4-1 lead after the first, with two takedowns. Dunphy escaped from his opening down position to start the second, but with 22 seconds left in the period, Vinson grabbed another takedown. The Bearcat wrestler quickly escaped to open third. Dunphy held tough through the third period, taking numerous shots on Vinson looking to score. Vinson evaded and notched another takedown on the whistle, and with riding time, won a 10-2 major decision.

Freshman Chris Dowdy took on Joe Chamish at 157 pounds. Dowdy hit the mat full of energy and took a 2-0 lead 40 seconds in with a takedown. The Big Red rookie was looking to turn his opponent as time ran out. Dowdy immediately escaped from his opening down position in the second. The two wrestlers traded shots, but neither scored again heading into the third. Chamish was unable to escape from his starting down position in the third,and with 4:12 in riding time Dowdy won a 5-0 decision.

Senior No. 1 ranked Kyle Dake took on Adam Lepkowski at 165 pounds. Dake immediately shot off the whistle for a single leg takedown. Within 20 seconds, Dake was turning his opponent for back points and took a 9-0 lead into the second. Lepkowski chose to start the second at neutral. Dake once again shot right off the whistle and immediately took down his opponent. He grabbed two more back points before pinning Lepkowski as time ran out in the second.

At 174 pounds, freshman Duke Pickett Jr. faced Caleb Wallace. Pickett notched two takedowns midway through the first period and added another with five seconds left on the clock to take a 6-2 lead. Pickett escaped from his opening down position in the second and added a throw by takedown to grab a 9-2 advantage. Wallace would escape from his opening down position in the third, but with another takedown and 3:26 in riding time Pickett won a 13-3 major decision.

Rookie Craig Scott took on Cody Reed at 184 pounds. Scott held a 2-1 advantage after the first period. Reed quickly escaped from his opening down position to start the second, but Scott would take him down once again. Reed caught Scott and earned a reversal, but Scott immediately escaped. Scott escaped from his opening down position in the third to earn a 6-4 victory.

Sophomore Billy George faced No. 8 Nate Schiedel at 197 pounds. After a scoreless first period, Schiedel quickly escaped to open the second. The Bearcat wrestler took him down, but George escaped to come within two points.

George escaped from his opening down position in the third and was looking to score. Schiedel added another two points with a takedown. George would escape but with 1:13 in riding time, Schiedel won a 6-3 decision.

At heavyweight, senior Stryker Lane faced Tyler Deuel. Lane took down Deuel midway through the first and rode out his opponent for the remainder of the period. Deuel was unable to escape from his opening down position in the second period. Stryker escaped from his down position in the third and with 3:35 in riding time won a 4-0 decision.

Cornell will play host to the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Tournament on Saturday and Sunday in Newman Arena. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. both days.